1. The person who checks off the greatest number of species from the list below by the end of 2014 is the winner. (In case that’s unclear, you just have to get one of each to check them off the list – the point is to get through the list as fast as you can.) In the event of a tie, the person who checked them off first is the winner.

-carp

-gar

-catfish

-largemouth bass

-smallmouth bass

-striped bass

-American shad

-hickory shad

-crappie-snakehead

2. Boundaries of the competition will be Potomac River and its tributaries (including the canal) from Great Falls to Dogue Creek.

3. All fish must be photographed and posted on the “Potomac River Wild Fish Challenge” group on tu.org.

4. Competition is open to TU staff, trustees and distinguished alumni.

Get Your H2 Life Rod

Installment deadline approaching! Become a Life Member today and recive your custom Orvis H2 rod and CFO II reel as featured on the Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide Podcast with Tom Rosenbauer. Watch the video.

Potomac avg. first bite

I just spoke with Gordon Leisch. He is a former marine biologist and VERY long time Potomac fall line angler. His logs go back 50 + years. We averaged the date of the first bite for a few species. Based on his records they are as follows.

Blue Catfish Year Round 20 - 40 pounders being caught now on the sandbar

Gizzard Shad March 1 in numbers but always around

White Perch March 15th

H Shad March 30th

River Herring March 30th

Striped Bass (big) April 1st

Snakeheads Insufficient data Usually around the 1st of April with a high water event